Fearing poaching, parties send their men to exotic locales

Hyderabad: Peoples’ representatives elected from the local civic bodies are having a field day in the Telangana State. Thanks to the biennial election for 12 seats in Telangana Legislative Council under Local Authorities Constituencies ( LAC) to be held on December 27. Their wish to visit exotic places like Goa, Kerala, Agra and other important tourist and religious places are being fulfilled by the political parties .

Fearing poaching from each other, the ruling TRS and the Opposition Congress and TDP are ferrying their ‘flock’ to ‘safer places’ selected by the representatives in almost all the election-bound districts. Many of the elected local body members have already been shifted to their holiday destinations out of the State.

In Khammam and Nalgonda districts, the members were in high demand as the TRS was trying hard to poach the local representatives elected from TDP, Congress and left parties. The ruling party did not have enough numbers to win the election in the two districts. The only option left before the party is to steal other party members.

Party leaders said the local body representatives put many demands before their party leaders and threatened to shift loyalties if their wishes were not fulfilled. Many of them wanted to visit tourist places and some holy centres. The members were formed in groups and sent to their selected places.

“They will be brought back two days prior to the election and will be hidden in a secluded place until they cast their vote,” a senior Congress leader from Nalgonda said. A municipal Councilor, from a major municipality in Khammam, said he won the election by spending huge money.

“ This election makes way to gain monitory benefits as well as fulfill long pending wishes,” he said. The threat of horse-trading by political parties is high in Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Karimangar where the election will be held for two seats in each district.

Almost all the local representatives are away from their native places. They are also using different phone network. In Medak, Adilabad and Nizamabd districts, the TRS and Congress are competing to grab the seats by either hook or crook or by luring the members with monetary benefits.

By Patan Afzal Babu